RugBees

The Rugby Football League has launched an exciting new project to encourage more girls within the primary school age to take up the sport.

RugBees is open to girls aged 7-11 and will be delivered on a weekly basis by club foundations to help them develop their confidence in areas such as catching, passing and kicking – whilst having plenty of fun too. It’s the first Rugby League programme to be developed specifically for primary school aged girls and the RFL has chosen the popular RLWC2021 mascot RugBee to bring the project to life.

Each session will be an hour long, beginning with an introduction to the game’s technical skills and finishing with a non-contact form of the game such as Tag or Touch. Parents and guardians will be encouraged to cheer children on throughout.

The ground-breaking project was unveiled at Headingley on Tuesday 28th March 2023 by St. Helens and England star Jodie Cunningham, who was the RFL’s National Women’s and Girls Development Manager at the time, before joining the Saints as Head of Women’s Pathways and Performance at the start of 2024.

England Women’s World Cup campaign and the HeRLegacy series has helped attract hundreds of players to Rugby League taster sessions and the introduction of RugBees means there is now a girls only offer for 7-11-year-olds for the very first time.

LOCATIONS FOR OUR RUGBEES SESSIONS IN 2024

Newton Storm ARLFC – 17.04.24 to 15.05.24 (WA12 9XE)

Haydock Warriors ARLFC – 22.05.24 to 19.06.24 (WA11 0TR)

Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC – 26.06.24 to 24.07.24 (WA9 5JA)

Portico Vine ARLFC – 31.07.24 to 28.08.24 (WA10 3PD)

SEE A TEASER OF WHAT TO EXPECT FROM RUGBEES BELOW

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A look at what you can expect from this evenings session. Matty Smith will be joined by @Jodie_cunny & @katiemot13!

?️ @PorticoVineRLFC (WA10 3PD)
? Girls aged 7-11
? 6pm-7pm
? £2.50#Saintsandproud | @violet_gift pic.twitter.com/cmaAFn5n2w

— Saints Community Development Foundation (@CommunitySaints) July 5, 2023

The girls have also had the chance to play at the Totally Wicked Stadium during half-time of the men’s game against Hull KR on Friday 18th of August.

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There is still time for young girls to come down to @porticovinearlfc on a Wednesday and get involved!

So far, the programme has allowed young girls the chance to play at the @twstadium, meet many @saints1890women stars & more!#Saintsandproud pic.twitter.com/OOoWj5XuqM

— Saints Community Development Foundation (@CommunitySaints) September 4, 2023

On Sunday 10th September, the girls had the chance to lead out our women’s side at the Totally Wicked Stadium, ahead of their game against Warrington Wolves!

? The RugBees girls getting to take to the @twstadium pitch with some of their role-models!#Saintsandproud https://t.co/rkxfOfrKUS pic.twitter.com/gTYE4HwenW

— Saints Community Development Foundation (@CommunitySaints) September 11, 2023